Monreale day trip from Palermo
A day trip to Monreale from Palermo: Piazza Guglielmo II, the Benedictine cloister with its twin columns, the belvedere over the Conca d'Oro and lunch, then the golden mosaics of Monreale Cathedral and the walk over its roof terraces. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Monreale in 1 day
Day 1
Piazza Guglielmo II
The square in front of the cathedral, with cafes, the town hall and a fountain; a good place for lunch.
Benedictine Cloister of Monreale
Twelfth-century cloister of the abbey founded by William II, with over two hundred columns set in pairs, many inlaid with mosaic, and carved capitals.
Belvedere of the Villa Comunale (view of the Conca d'Oro)
Garden terrace behind the cloister looking down over the Conca d'Oro, the plain of orange groves stretching to Palermo and the sea.
Monreale Cathedral and roof terraces
Norman cathedral of the 1170s with vast golden mosaics of the Bible; the roof terraces look over the cloister and the valley.
Getting there
From Palermo the AMAT city bus 389 leaves from Piazza Indipendenza and takes about 30-40 minutes up the hill; AST buses run the same way. By taxi or car it is about 25 minutes, with parking below the town and a short walk up.
Staying in Palermo? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Monreale
Monreale can be visited all year; spring and autumn are the most pleasant for the walk around town and the views. Summer is hot in Palermo but slightly fresher on the hill, and July and August bring the most visitors. Winter days are mild, and the mosaics glow whatever the weather.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Monreale on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Monreale on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Monreale on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Monreale
- On Sunday mornings the cathedral is mainly for Mass; plan the visit for the afternoon, as this plan does.
- Dress modestly for the cathedral: shoulders and knees covered, or carry a scarf.
- The cloister and the roof terraces have their own tickets; the terraces' narrow stairs need some agility.
- The cathedral is part of the Arab-Norman UNESCO site with Palermo's Palatine Chapel and Martorana; seeing them on the same trip shows the style at its best.
- Go early or late to avoid the tour groups that arrive from Palermo in the middle of the day.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Benedictine Cloister of Monreale: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monreale Cathedral and roof terraces: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piazza Guglielmo II: pjt56 —, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
